battlekow

Chris (New Jersey): How far can Pomeranz realistically fall? Kevin Goldstein: He could go 5 to Cleveland, but if that doesn't happen, he could get into the double-digit picks.

Sounds like Pomeranz might be slipping. Him falling to the Brewers would be a dream scenario.

Goldstein still has the Brewers taking Ranaudo, which would make me happy. Andy Seiler has them taking Matt Harvey. Doesn't Allie fall more into the one-big-tool/possible-reliever category more than the well-rounded one? Don't get me wrong, I'd still like to draft him.

Regarding how Isom feels about Gennett's ability to play shortstop: Isom: "He profiles as a prototypical second baseman now." Haudricourt: "Wisconsin manager Jeff Isom believes Gennett...might profile as a second baseman down the road."

Neither here nor there as it pertains to this year's draft, but it's interesting to hear that the Brewers would have drafted Wade Davis in the third round in 2004 had the Rays not taken him with the pick before; the Brewers ended up choosing Josh Wahpepah.

The flaw is the assumption that he had to sign at least one of those players, though perhaps Attanasio forced him to.

LHP Lucas Luetge promoted from Brevard County to Huntsville to take Brandon Kintzler's spot. Amaury Rivas activated off the DL and Alex Periard put on it.

It's common these days to use AAA as a kind of holding tank for bench guys and 6th/7th starters, with real prospects often skipping straight from AA to MLB. Staton's situation isn't unusual.

Nope, but it's all broadcast on MLB.com for free.

Mayo's updated pick is Workman.

Brewers release Suppan Tom Haudricourt No longer willing to carry Jeff Suppan on their pitching staff merely on the basis of his salary, the Brewers finally decided to part ways with the veteran right-hander by releasing him Monday. Suppan, 35, was in the final year of a four-year, $42 million contract he signed as a free agent before the 2007 season. His salary for this season is $12.5 million, and approximately $8.3 million remains to be paid. The Brewers also are obligated to pay Suppan a $2 million buyout of a club option for $12.75 million for 2011. So, in essence, the Brewers are paying more than $10 million to cut the cord with Suppan. Removed from the starting rotation after two outings this season, Suppan had become more of a liability than an asset, pitching almost exclusively in mop-up duty. In 15 outings, including those two starts, Suppan was 0-2 with a 7.84 earned run average. In 31 innings, he allowed 50 hits, 12 walks and 27 earned runs, with 18 strikeouts. In 110 games with the Brewers, including 97 starts, Suppan went 29-36 with a 5.08 ERA. Suppan had become a chief target of angry fans, who booed him at Miller Park every time he entered a game. Message boards, blogs and other forms of communication were filled with pleas for his release despite the cost. The Brewers signed Suppan after a successful three-year run in St. Louis during which he went 44-26 with a 3.95 ERA. But his effectiveness declined in each of his seasons with the Brewers, beginning with a 12-12 record and 4.62 ERA in 2007. In 2008, Suppan went 10-10 with a 4.96 ERA. He started Game 4 of the National League division series against Philadelphia at Miller Park and was tagged for six hits, including three homers, and five runs in three innings as the Brewers were eliminated from the playoffs after a 26-year wait. Suppan slipped to 7-12 with a 5.29 ERA in 30 outings, spending some time on the DL with an oblique strain. He was allowed to make a start in St. Louis on the final day of the season to extend his streak of making 30 starts to 11 seasons. Suppan began this season on the 15-day DL with cervical pain in his neck. He was activated on April 15 and made two starts against the Cubs. In the first game, he allowed four runs in five innings. In the second start, he allowed 10 hits and six runs (five earned) in 4 1/3 innings. Suppan was removed from the rotation at that point and placed in the bullpen. He was used almost exclusively in mop-up duty but manager Ken Macha did give him once last chance on May 30 to pitch with a game on the line, sending out in the sixth inning of a 3-3 game with the Mets. Suppan surrendered four runs in less than two innings and the Brewers went on to lose, 10-4.

Oh yeah, that makes tons of sense. Clearly they just forgot about the DH issue when they assigned him to Huntsville.

Dykstra follows familiar pattern David S. Glasier/The News-Herald With Father's Day looming on the near horizon, it's worth noting sons of two former major-league players were in opposing dugouts this weekend at Classic Park. Captains left fielder Bo Greenwell, the 21-year-old son of former Boston Red Sox outfielder Mike Greenwell, is having an outstanding first half for the Captains. With his .318 batting average, four home runs, 34 RBI and team-high 102 total bases in 54 games, Greenwell is close to being a sure-thing selection when the Midwest League All-Star teams are announced later this week. Wisconsin third baseman Cutter Dykstra is the 20-year-old son of former New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Lenny Dykstra. Promoted to the Timber Rattlers out of extended spring training on May 3, Dykstra is batting .294 with two home runs and seven RBI in 29 games. Greenwell was the Indians' sixth-round pick in the June 2007 draft. Dykstra was the Milwaukee Brewers' second-round pick in the June 2008 draft. Both started their pro careers straight out of high school and are upwardly mobile in the farm systems of the Indians and Brewers, respectively. In Sunday's sort-of double-header at Classic Park, Greenwell and Dykstra made their presences felt. Greenwell singled, walked three times and scored three runs as the Captains breezed to an 8-4 victory in the opener. The game picked up where Saturday night's game left off when rain forced a suspension of play as the Captains came to bat in the bottom of the fourth, leading, 4-2. Dykstra got the Timber Rattlers rolling toward a 4-1 victory in the seven-inning nightcap when he slammed a two-run home run in the top of the first inning. The blast came off Lake County starter and eventual loser Brett Brach. "After losing the first game, we wanted to jump on them and put up a crooked number early. I was being aggressive," Dykstra said of the thought he carried to the plate before connecting off Brach. At 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds, the younger Dykstra bears a strong resemblance to his father. "It's great to have a dad who played in the big leagues," Dykstra said. "Just to be able to talk to him all the time about the game is a real advantage." Greenwell often has said there has been no down side for him in growing up as the baseball-playing son of a famous big-leaguer. Dykstra said his experience mirrors Greenwell's. "I like having Dykstra on the back of my jersey," Dykstra said. "I want people to say, ‘He plays the game the right way, the way his dad played.' "

Final: Round Rock 8, Nashville 2Round Rock drops Nashville, 8-2Nashville Sounds ROUND ROCK, Tex. - The Nashviille Sounds lost to the Round Rock Express, 8-2, on Sunday night at The Dell Diamond in the second game of a four-game series. In a quality start, Sergio Perez (2-0) earned the win after surrendering two runs on four hits while fanning five in seven innings. Jonah Bayless added two shutout innings while striking out four. The Express jumped on the board scoring four runs off Sounds starter Mike McClendon in the opening inning. After a throwing error by third baseman Mat Gamel that brought home Round Rock's first two runs, Express catcher Jason Castro crushed a two-run home run to right field for a 4-0 lead, his second long ball of the year. Perez held the Sounds without a hit through the first four frames, until outfielder Brendan Katin belted a solo home run in the top of the fifth inning. It was his fifth homer of the season and first home run since April 11 at Iowa. After Luis Cruz singled, Johnny Raburn doubled home Cruz from first base that reduced the Express lead to 4-2. After loading the bases, the Express got three more runs for a 7-2 lead in the next frame. Reliever Mike Jones replaced McClendon and then walked home the first run of the inning on four pitches. Yordany Ramirez then brought home the second run on an infield groundout, followed by an RBI-base knock by Michael Garciaparra. Round Rock extended its lead to 8-2 on a Matt Kata sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth inning. McClendon (2-1) took the loss after being touched up for seven runs (six earned) on nine hits and one walk with five strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings. Jones added 1 2/3 innings in relief, walking one and striking out two. Left-hander Mitch Stetter threw a scoreless frame while giving up one hit and striking out one. Right-hander Jeff Bennett gave up one run on one hit in an inning pitched. The Sounds and Express are scheduled to play the third game of a four-game set at 7:05 pm CT on Monday evening at The Dell Diamond. After having his contract purchased by the Brewers from the Camden Riversharks of the independent Atlantic League, left-hander Sam Narron (NR) -- who spent parts of the 2008 & 2009 seasons with the Sounds - makes the start for Nashville against Round Rock lefty Andy Van Hekken (2-3, 3.97). Nashville box score With three hits, Cruz was the only Sound to reach base more than once. Gamel was 0-4 with two strikeouts. Garciaparra was on the Sounds last year. Nashville play-by-play

Final: Huntsville 8, Tennessee 6 Stars outlast Smokies Connor Shreve/Huntsville Stars A rain delay which pushed back the start of Sundays game an hour and twenty minutes was not enough to slow the offense in an 8-6 victory for Huntsville (26-31). The Stars proved resilient in weathering a late surge from the Smokies (34-22) to snap a season long losing streak at four games. Neither Huntsville nor the opposition took much time in scoring right out of the gate. In the Stars first, Lorenzo Cain made it aboard with a single before swiping second base for his team leading 13th stolen base of the year. Caleb Gindl brought in Cain and picked up a double on a misplayed ball in left field. Ty Wright initially broke in on the ball before making an ill fated attempt to retreat as it bounced over his head and rolled all the way to the wall. Huntsville lost the lead in the bottom of the first as Wright and Blake Lalli singled with two outs, which set up a two RBI triple off the bat of Matt Spencer. Cain again took center stage in the second inning when Huntsville scored three runs to retake the lead. Anderson Machado started the frame by doubling on a deep fly to center. Huntsville’s newest Star Dayton Buller smacked a single before Brett Lawrie doubled both runners home. Cain proceeded to mark the inning with a run scoring triple before the second came to a close. Buller, whose contract was purchased from Camden (NJ) of the independent Atlantic League on June fifth, added a three run home run in the third inning. Though Tennessee trailed by five runs after three innings, the Smokies continually ate away at the Stars lead with two unanswered runs in the fourth and two in the seventh. The first run across in the seventh came before Stars starter Michael Bowman (5-4, 5.54) departed and reliever Eduardo Morlan inherited a runner on third that scored thanks to Marwin Gonzales’ sacrifice fly. Bowman was charged with both of the seventh inning runs; all six against him were earned. He worked one out in to the seventh, allowed eight hits, struck out five, walked one and departed after having thrown 92 pitches. Huntsville closer Brandon Kintzler entered in the eighth and pitched to five batters in the extended save. Kintzler’s ten saves is the third best in the Southern League. Austin Bibens-Dirkx (4-2 2.85) struggled throughout his three innings on the mound. The Stars scored six earned runs and seven in total over the first three innings. His outing was nothing like the last time he faced Huntsville. On May 15 at Joe Davis Stadium Bibens-Dirkx picked up his first win going six innings and allowing only one unearned run in an 8-2 Tennessee victory. On Sunday though, his control was absent and he walked three Stars batters and struck out only one. Game three of Huntsville’s current North Division road trip is Monday night at Smokies Park in Kodak, TN. First pitch for all three remaining games against the Smokies is 6:15 pm (CDT). Monday's contest will be broadcast online at www.huntsvillestars.com. Huntsville box score Gindl also doubled a second time and also walked, and Taylor Green chipped in with a double of his own. Lee Haydel came in on a double switch and had an RBI single in the 8th to give the Stars a much-needed insurance run. Huntsville play-by-play

Forgot to mention that Heckathorn got 12 ground outs against only five air outs; he's at over 2 in that department on the year, which does mitigate somewhat the need for strikeouts.

IF Steffan Wilson was activated from Huntsville's DL.

The fact that he's not playing shortstop even though the shortstops on the team (Marseco, George) have been terrible is, though.

Final: Wisconsin 4, Lake County 1Wisconsin gives Lake County Heck Chris Mehring/Wisconsin Timber Rattlers EASTLAKE, OH – Wisconsin Timber Rattlers starting pitcher Kyle Heckathorn tossed a 7-inning complete game and was supported by timely hitting to defeat the Lake County Captains 4-1 on Sunday afternoon. Heckathorn allowed one unearned run on four hits and struck out three to continue his hot streak. Cutter Dykstra gave the Rattlers (21-36) an almost immediate 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. D’Vontrey Richardson singled on the first pitch of the game. Dykstra hit the second pitch of the game to right field for his second homer of the season. The opposite field blast put Wisconsin in front 2-0. Michael Marseco started the Rattlers’ third inning with a double. Richardson followed with a double and Marseco scored for a 3-0 lead. The Captains (38-19) took advantage of a pair of errors and a wild pitch to score an unearned run in the bottom of the third inning. Delvi Cid reached on an error with one out. He took second on a bunt and moved to third on a wild. Chun Chen sent a grounder to third that was fielded cleanly, but the throw to first was dropped and Cid scored. The Rattlers got that run back in the top of the seventh. Cameron Garfield doubled with one out. A Pete Fatse single moved him to third. Erik Miller’s RBI grounder to short got Garfield in for a little insurance. Heckathorn would not need it. He retired the side in order in the bottom of the seventh inning for his first professional complete game. The big right-hander has pitched seven innings in four consecutive starts and has allowed just three earned runs in those four starts. He has lowered his earned run average from 5.12 to 2.36. Also, Heckathorn has not walked a batter in 21-1/3 innings. The Timber Rattlers are off on Monday before starting a six-game homestand on Tuesday night at Time Warner Cable Field. The Bowling Green Hot Rods are in town to start a three game series on a 105.7WAPL Bang for your Buck Night. There is soda, hot dogs, and Miller Beer available for $1. Plus, as part of Miller Summer Kick-Off Week there will be ticket giveaways to Country USA, Noah’s Ark, Skyline Comedy Club, and Summerfest. Plus, the parking lot will be open at 4:00pm for fans to take in the Principal Financial Group Family Fun Fest, a free traveling show with baseball memorabilia, inflatable games, and interactive features. The first 1,000 fans into the stadium will receive a Timber Rattlers baseball cap from 105.7 WAPL. Additionally, it is a KRAFT Singles Tuesday Night Tickets. Fans who bring in a KRAFT Singles package wrapper and purchase one reserved seat will receive a second reserved seat free. Nick Bucci (3-2, 1.74) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Game time is 7:05pm. Wisconsin box score It's tough to complain about how effective and efficient Heckathorn's been lately, but I'm going to anyway: with his stuff, I'd like more strikeouts. Nice to see Richardson and Dykstra notch two-hit games. Scooter Gennett, Khris Davis, and Chris Dennis were all 0-3. Wisconsin play-by-play

Halton's walk-off homer tops Marauders Frank Longobardo/Brevard County Manatees VIERA - So much for not being able to hit home runs at home. Manatees first baseman Sean Halton hit two homers, including a three-run walk-off shot with two outs, as Brevard County topped the South divison leading Bradenton Marauders 5-4 on Sunday afternoon at Space Coast Stadium. One day after Brevard County hit its first home home run, Halton connected twice to put balls over the left field fence. His first homer put the Manatees on the board first as he hit a two-out solo shot in the second off of Jeff Locke. Halton's second dinger came on a first pitch fastball from Marauders closer Noah Krol and he deposited it into the bullpen in left to snap the Manatees' three-game losing streak. Lucas Luetge made his first start of the season for Brevard County and threw 3 2/3 shutout innings and allowed four hits and two walks, while fanning four. Mike Ramlow relieved Luetge in the fourth and retired eight of the first nine batters that he faced, until he ran into trouble in the seventh. Ramlow allowed a one-out single to Greg Picart and then Picart advanced to second on a wild pick-off attempt from Ramlow. Eric Fryer then drew a walk and Robbie Grossman followed with a RBI double to cut the Manatees lead to 2-1. Corey Frerichs relieved Ramlow and after getting Quincy Latimore to strike out, he walked Jeremy Farrell to load the bases. RBI singles from James Skelton and Calvin Anderson gave the Marauders a 4-2 lead. It would stay 4-2 until the ninth as a one-out walk drawn by Logan Schafer started the Manatees rally. Following an Angel Solome strikeout, All-Star Sergio Miranda singled to right to keep Brevard County alive and put runners on the corners. Halton would then step up and end the game with one swing of the bat as a line drive off of his bat cleared the left field wall and sent Space Coast Stadium into a frenzy as the Manatees - down to their final out - rallied to win 5-4. Along with Halton, Juan Sanchez also had two hits and All-Star Erik Komatsu had the Manatees other RBI on a ground out in the sixth. R.J. Seidel picked up his first win as a Manatee as he threw a perfect ninth inning. Brevard County and Bradenton will continue the series on Monday night at 7:05 p.m. in Viera.

Final: Brevard County 5, Bradenton 4Brevard County box score Sean Halton power! The first baseman clubbed his first two homers of the year, accounting for four of the Manatees' five runs and ending the game with his three-run bomb in the bottom of the 9th. Reliever Lucas Luetge pitched very well in a spot start, going 3.2 scoreless innings with four hits allowed, two walks, and four whiffs. R.J. Seidel picked up the win after tossing a perfect top of the 9th with a strikeout. Josh Prince was 1-4 and stole two bases, running his total to 17 now. Erik Komatsu was 0-2, Logan Schafer 0-3 with a walk, and Angel Salome, DHing again, 0-4. Matt Cline was 0-2 and left the game in the 6th inning. Juan Sanchez pitched in with two hits. Kentrail Davis missed his third straight game. Brevard County play-by-play Brevard County Bottom 9th Erik Komatsu grounds out, shortstop Greg Picart to first baseman Erik Huber. Logan Schafer walks. Angel Salome strikes out swinging. Sergio Miranda singles on a ground ball to right fielder Robbie Grossman. Logan Schafer to 3rd. Sean Halton homers (2) on a line drive to left field. Logan Schafer scores. Sergio Miranda scores.

Tyler Barnes: "Brewers place RHP Todd Coffey on 15-day DL, retro to 5/30 with right thumb contusion, corresponding move will be made on Tuesday"

Final: Lake County 8, Wisconsin 4Captains sail past Rattlers Chris Mehring/Wisconsin Timber Rattlers EASTLAKE, OH – The Lake County Captains scored four first innings runs and cruised past the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers for an 8-4 victory. The game was concluded on Sunday afternoon after it was suspended by weather on Saturday night. Chun Chen and Casey Frawley each drove in three runs for the Captains. On Saturday night, Lake County (38-18) scored four times in the bottom of the first inning against Rattlers starting pitcher Eric Arnett. Chun Chen hit a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded to drive in the first run of the game. Casey Frawley, who drove in the winning run with a single in the eleventh inning on Friday night, followed Chen with a three-run homer to left. Wisconsin (20-36) struck back in the top of the third inning. Scooter Gennett singled with the bases loaded to send two Rattlers across home plate and the Rattlers trailed 4-2. The rain halted the game in the middle of the fourth inning. When the game restarted on Sunday, Rattlers reliever Efrain Nieves worked a scoreless bottom of the fourth. Then, Michael Marseco tripled to start the fifth inning. D’Vontrey Richardson knocked in Marseco with a grounder. Later in the fifth, Wisconsin loaded the bases with two outs, but could not get the tying run home. Nieves walked the leadoff batter in the bottom of the fifth. Then, Richardson lost a flyball to center in the sun and it dropped in for a single to put runners on the corners. Chun Chen drove in the run from third with a slow roller to short. After another walk, Adam Abraham doubled to left-center to drive in one run. Kyle Smith followed with a single and the Captains were up 7-3 Richardson doubled to start the Wisconsin half of the seventh inning. Gennett drove Richardson home with a single, the third hit of the game for the Rattler second baseman. Chen doubled in a run in the bottom of the eighth to account for the final run of the game. Lake County closer Preston Guilmet retired the Rattlers in order in the eighth and ninth innings to pick up his fifth save. Game two will be starting soon. Wisconsin box score Gennett's third hit was a double; the kid's a machine. Marseco also had a double to go along with his triple. Cutter Dykstra was 0-4 with a walk, and Khris Davis was 0-2 with two HBP. Arnett's final line: 3 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 1 K. Wisconsin play-by-play

Lefty reliever Lucas Luetge is listed as the starter in the box score.

Chris Mehring reports that Chris Dennis will be back in the Wisconsin lineup for game two.